Paul Weyrich

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Paul Weyrich, American political figure (born Oct. 7, 1942, Racine, Wis.—died Dec. 18, 2008, Fairfax, Va.), helped found (1973) the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservativethink tank, and the Committee for the Survival of a Free Congress (1974; later known as the Free Congress Foundation), which funded conservative political candidates and causes. In 1979 Weyrich also cofounded, with American televangelist Jerry Falwell, the Moral Majority, another influential conservative political organization; Weyrich was reported to have coined the term moral majority. He served as the chairman and chief executive officer of the Free Congress Foundation until his death.